Strathclyde University to pedestrianise three Glasgow city centre streets
Rottenrow, North Portland Street and Richmond Street are to be transformed as part of a £3.5m investment
Last updated 12th Apr 2023
The ownership of a city centre site worth £50,000 has been transferred for free to the University of Strathclyde who want to provide a safer space for students.
Glasgow City Council agreed to the transfer of the land at Rottenrow, North Portland Street and Richmond Street at their contracts and property committee.
The university plans to invest £13.5 million “in the heart of the campus” by creating an environmentally friendly amenity space and a “pedestrians first” ethos.
Included in the proposed improvement works is the provision of a covered walkway, seating and performance space, raised walkways and regrading of gardens, planting and tree works, and the pedestrian prioritisation of Rottenrow, North Portland Street, and Richmond Street.
It will also include cycle parking and electric vehicle charging points.
Planning consent is already in place for these works which will also look to add more event space and seating, enhancing WIFI, improving biodiversity, promoting health and well-being, improved accessibility, improved lighting and security and a graduation wall and rain gardens.
The council will now transfer this site – nominally valued at £50,000 – to the University, which will own the entirety of the wider site, at no cost.
'Enhance experience'
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “We will transform Rottenrow Gardens and surrounding area into an accessible and innovative set of spaces, which will enhance the student experience and improve the University’s connectivity with the surrounding community.
“In accordance with our commitment to use our assets to benefit the local community, the Heart of the Campus project will be people-oriented and collaborative.
"Inclusion and accessibility for all of Glasgow’s diverse population will be central to this development, creating cleaner, safer, pedestrian- and cycle-friendly spaces.”
'Sticky campus'
Justyna Kardasz, Vice Principal of Communities of Strathclyde Student's Union, said: "This is going to be a really important part of creating community and giving students a third space away from work and home.
"It's making more of a sticky campus, where people really want to be and spend time.
"There are no typical students nowadays - it's masters students from across the world, students who maybe didn't want to come to university because of their disability, and because this is an inaccessible campus.
"It would make this so much more accessible to those communities.
"Events space is also vastly needed - there are currently 179 societies and 53 sports clubs."
'Social benefits'
Councillor Franny Scally, chairman of Glasgow City Council’s contracts and property committee, said: “The transfer of this site – lying at the heart of the University of Strathclyde’s campus – will allow public realm, greenspace and active travel works to take place there.
"This will bring significant environmental and social benefits to everyone using the University campus and this part of the city centre.”